Because more casualties get reported when the U.S. is at war. The military is a dangerous job, regardless of whether its members are deployed for combat.

"For instance, from 1980 to 1989 the military averaged 2,123 deaths a year. Most from accidents (375 from hostile or terrorist activity). In 1991, 1,787 died on military duty. Of those 147 were KIA in the Gulf War."

"In 2003 we suffered 1,410 military deaths, of which, 560 were a result of hostile action. In 2004 it was 1,887, of which 565 were a result of hostile action."

Does it seem like military choppers go down more often than the civilian variety? Is that because the military choppers get that much more flight time? Operating conditions? Built by the lowest bidder?

I suppose it's possible that mechanical failure was the cause, but the difference between "crash" and "brought down by ground fire" depends on how many _combat_ deaths the military feels like reporting for that day. After all, a "crash" can happen anywhere, and doesn't point to the real level of violence in the theater. Crashes happen in the U.S. on training exercises. "Shot down" paints an entirely different picture. "Separation of rotor assembly from transmission due to metal fatigue" looks better to next of kin than "separation of rotor assembly caused by shoulder fired anti-aircraft missile."

Does it seem like military choppers go down more often than the civilian variety? Is that because the military choppers get that much more flight time? Operating conditions? Built by the lowest bidder?

Does it seem like military choppers go down more often than the civilian variety? Is that because the military choppers get that much more flight time? Operating conditions? Built by the lowest bidder?

there are alot of more of them flying around, they're getting shot at, they're operating a lot longer hours, flying further etc.

what sucks about when a chopper goes down is, unlike a fighter, there's usually a cargo of passengers who bite it too. when an f16 crashes, its the pilot. when a blackhawk or a chinook goes, its the pilots, and all the dudes in the back.